Apparatus for controlling the operation of railway switches and signals.



O. O. ANDERSON.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.6,1911.

1,086,499, Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. O. ANDERSON.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS.

APPLIOATIQN FILED FEB. 6, 1911.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. \VASHINUTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

CHARLES O. ANDERSON, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF SEVEN-TENTHS TO A. T. AUSTIN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES O. Annm- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Controlling the Operation of Railway Switches and Signals, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that class of devices known as apparatus for controlling the operation of railway switches or the like, and relates particularly to mechanism automatically operatable by a passing train for controlling the operation of railway switches, derails, or the like, being substantially a safety device for preventing the operation of the switch while a train is passing over the same.

The device is particularly applicable in connection with electrically or pneumatically operated switches, which are controlled from a tower at some distance from the switch to be operated, but the same, however, is not confined in its use to the classes mentioned.

My invention has among its objects the production of a simple, eliicient, safe and satisfactory apparatus of the kind described for use wherever it may be found applicable.

To illustrate the invention, the same is shown as applied to an electrically controlled switch, which is described in my pending application for railway switches or the like, filed March 29, 1909, Serial No. 186,37 5, of which this is a divisional application.

With the apparatus herein described the operator in the tower, at the switch or the controlling point, is prevented from intentionally or accidentally throwing or in any way operating the switch over which the train is passing, or about to pass, when the train is within the range of the apparatus, nor can the actuating mechanism be accidentally operated in any way while the train is within range.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Divided and this application filed February characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus as applied to an electrically operated and controlled railway switch. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 2, 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the detector bar. Fig. 4. is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus at the switch operating mechanism, and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5, 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, a portion of one form of railway switch is shown, comprising the stock rails 1, 3, 1 and 3 and the movable switch members or points 2 and 4: with my invention applied thereto. As before mentioned, the device may be applied to a single point switch, derail or the like, the form of switch shown being merely to illustrate the application and operation of the apparatus.

It may be assumed for convenience in describing the device that the switch points are shown in normal positions, and when moved toward the rail 1 are in reverse positions. The rails and switch points are supported in the usual manner upon ties 7, 7 of any preferred construction and material. The switch points 2 and 4t are shown connected by spreader bars 9 and 10, and are operated by the throw rod 12, which is connected to one of the spreader bars in any suitable manner. In the drawings an extension is shown on the spreader bar 9 and the throw rod 12 secured thereto by nuts 15, 15.

The throw rod may be operated in any desired way, depending upon the particular type of switch. In the construction shown the throw rod is actuated by a suitable motor and cooperating mechanisms arranged in the casings 13 and 14. The present invention relates to a mechanism or apparatus for rendering the throw rod actuating mechanism inoperative, or that is controlling the same.

referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, 19 is a detector bar or rail, which is preferably arranged along one side proximate one of the stock rails, as shown the rail 3. The bar may be supported in any desired way, the preferred construction being a plurality of arms or links 74 and 75, etc., which are pivotally secured to the detector bar by pins 76 or their equivalents for the purpose. The opposite ends of the arms 74, 75, etc, are also pivotally supported so that the bar may be raised or lowered, the parallel links causing it to travel parallel with the top of the rail, so that the top of the detector bar when above or below the top of the rail 3, lies in a plane that is parallel with the face of the rail. The arms 74:, 75, etc., are secured to brackets 133 by pins 77, the brackets being constructed so that they extend from one side of the rail to the other and clamp the rail on both sides. The two parts 133, which are connected by the web 131, may be clamped to the rail by bolts 134: or their equivalents.

The detector bar is normally maintained in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with its upper face above the plane of the top face or" the rail, by suitable resilient member 81 or its equivalent, so that the bar will be in position to be engaged and de pressed by a passing train. As most clearly shown in Fig. 3, 83 is a bracket or fixed part, which may be secured to the stock rail, and 82 is a rod connected to the bar 19, the spring 81 being arranged between the bracket 88 and nuts 8% on the end of the rod. The tendency of the spring is to draw the derail toward the same, and in so doing the links 74 and 7 5 elevate the bar above the top face of the rail. Nuts 8& on the rod 82 may be provided for limiting the movement of the detector bar, the same forming a convenient adjustable stop. As is obvious, there may be any number of springs and rods 82 for yieldingly maintaining the detector bar in normal position. After the train has passed the detector bar automatically returns to its normal position, and it might be noted that the bar is preferably of sufficient length so that the same will be maintained down during the passing of the train, that is it should be of suflicient length so that one or more of the wheels of the train are always in contact with it. By placing the bar 19 in close proximity to the stock rail, the rail guides the bar in its longitudinal and vertical travel.

The detector bar is connected with suitable mechanism for controlling the operation of the switch operating mechanism. The movement of the detector bar is transmitted to the controlling mechanism in any suitable way, as shown through a rod 20. Rod 20 is connected to an arm 78, mounted upon the pin or shaft 77, and arranged to swing with the arm 75. The arm '78 and the arm 7 5 may be secured together, or they may be keyed to the pin 77, so that as the link or arm 75 is operated, the arm 78 moves with it, the two forming substantially a bell crank. If desired there may be a plurality of holes 80, so that the travel of the rod 20 may be controlled by adjusting its position on the arm 78. By changing the position of the pin 79 to one of the other holes shown the travel of the rod may be lengthened or shortened as may be desired.

The particular mechanism to be operated by the detector bar would depend upon the kind of switch mechanism with which it was used, an electrically operated switch mechanism and circuit breaker, which is connected with the detector bar being shown for the purpose of illustration and description of the invention.

Referring particularly to Figs. t and 5, and 71 are contact members arranged in an electrical circuit and normally connected by the bar 72. The bar 72 is connected to a rod 7 3 having a forked end 73 embracing the bar. The opposite end of it is connected to the rod 20. Any equivalent form of circuit breaker or apparatus for the purpose may be employed.

The operation of the device may be briefly explained as follows: Assuming that the switch points are as shown in Fig. 1 and the detector bar as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in

which case the circuit breaker or switch bar 72 will be as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. As the train approaches or depresses the detector bar and maintains the same down until the train has passed the switch, the detector bar being depressed, the switch bar 72 of the circuit breaker is opened substantially as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4, thereby opening the main operating circuit and preventing the operation of the switch in the usual manner. As soon as the train has passed, the spring 81 draws the detector bar back to its normal position, thereby returning the switch 7 2 back to normal position, so that the switch operating mechanism, in so far as the detector bar apparatus is concerned, is in condition for operation if'desired. The condition of the detector bar will always be apparent to the man in the tower, since if it is out of order or drops below its normal position, the mechanism controlled thereby will be thrown out of normal and the tower man will be unable to operate the switch or receive his indications. The face of the detector bar being always in a parallel plane with the top face of the rail, will be operated by the passing train by depressing at any point between its ends. It will be noted that the preferred form of apparatus is automatically controlled by the passing train,and is completely out of control of the tower man, and not affected by any disarrangement of any other part of the system. Being operated by the train, power from the switch actuating mechanism or independent power is not required. Where the detector bar is operated by motor or other power than the train, the same might fail to perform its functions, owing to the parts being broken or bent, or giving away under its power, in which case failure of the detector bar to perform its functions, as for example, to stall the motor or overload the detector bar actuating mechanism, might permit the switch to be operated or thrown. As is obvious, this is not the case with my apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, arrangement, construction and combination of parts, or uses shown, described or mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the kind described and in combination with a railway switch mechanism, including stock rails, a movable switch point and means for actuating the switch point, a detector bar arranged along and parallel to one of said stock rails, means for supporting said bar comprising a plurality of links pivotally secured to the bar, a rail clamp for each link, and means for pivotally securing said links to their respective clamps, one of said links provided with an arm forming substantially a bell crank, means for connecting said arm to the switch actuating mechanism, and means for maintaining said bar with the upper face of the same proximate the plane of the upper face of the stock rail.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination with railway switch mechanism, including stock rails, a movable switch point and means for actuating the switch point, a detector bar arranged along and parallel to one of said stock rails, means for supporting said bar comprising a plurality of links pivotally secured to the bar, a rail clamp for each link, and means for pivotally securing said links to their respective clamps, one of said links provided with an arm forming substantially a bell crank, means for connecting the free end of said arm to the switch actuating mechanism, and means independent of said arm for yieldingly maintaining said bar with its upper face above the plane of the upper face of the stock rail.

3. In a device of the kind described and in combination with railway switch mechanism, including stock rails, a movable switch point, means for actuating the switch point and a controlling switch for said actuating means, a detector bar arranged along and parallel to one of said stock rails, means for supporting said bar comprising a plurality of links, a rail clamp for each link, and means for pivotally securing said links to their respective clamps, one of said links provided with an arm forming a bell crank therewith, a connecting rod, means for adjustably securing said connecting rod to said arm, means for securing said rod to said controlling switch mechanism, and means for normally maintaining said detector bar with its upper face raised, comprising a rod secured to said detector bar, and means for resiliently securing said rod to the stock rail.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES O. ANDERSON.

W'itnesses:

WILSON A. AUSTIN, A. A. MGCLURE.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patent, Washington, D. G. 

